Improvement in apparatus for curing tobacco



A. FENN.

APPARATUS FOR CURING TOBACCO.

No.186,669. Patented J'an.30, 1877.

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NPETERS, PHOTO-LITHCGRAPNER, WASHINGTON D. c.

UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE AUGUST FENN, OF. NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR CURING TOBACCO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 86,669, dated January 30, 1877; application filed July 22, 1876.

ratus, of limited expense, with which the cigarmaker can artificially sweat the leaves of tobacco for cigars by steam.

In the ordinary process of sweating said leaves cold water is used to moisten the tobacco; the gummy matter in the leaves is softened very slowly; the process of sweating requires often a number of days; the color of the leaf remains nearly the same as before sweating.

By means of sweating with steam in my apparatus the gummy matter in the leaf is quickly and thoroughly softened in a few hours, and the sweating process is properly completed. The color of the leaf is greatly improved, so that leaves of bad color, and of nearly one-fourth part of cost, can be used for the wrapper of the cigar.

In the drawings annexed, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

The letter A represents a small boiler,which has a suitable bottom, to enter and sit on the top of a stove, for boiling water and generating low steam therein. B represents an oblong-shaped metal tobacco receiver or box, which is sufficiently large to contain fully the quantity of tobacco required to'be sweated each time. The upper part of said boiler is connected with the lower portion or chamber of said receiver by means of a steam-pipe, O, which may be of rubber or any suitable material, and said pipe is furnished with a valve or cook, D, to stop the passage of the steam whenever required. Said boiler has a small cock, E, a little above its bottom, to test the amount of water contained therein, and its top has a cover, F, which is hinged, and has a lever across, to which may be applied a weight. The receiver B has also a cover, G, which is hinged to the top, and meets the same with a tapering joint, as shown, to make it nearly air-tight. The lower part of the receiver is divided from the upper part by means of a movable perforated bottom or partition, H, whereby a steam-chamber,H, is had between the bottom of the receiver and said partition, which has legs to support it. Upon the top of said partition is employed a grate, I, upon which the tobacco is laid in bundles, with the butt-ends against the short sides J of the receiver. On said sides J J are employed hinged flaps K K, which are arranged a distance above each other to cover the buttends of the leaves, and cause the steam to pass between them to ward the points of the leaves. I employ several of said flaps on each of said sides, to retard the passage of the steam and cause it to impregnate the several layers of the tobacco thoroughly.

L represents a thermometer, which is connected with the chamber in which the tobacco is placed, to enable the user of the apparatus to determine the heat therein, so as to regulate said heat properly by using the cock D, and decrease or increase the supply of steam. Said thermometer is not positively necessary to operate the apparatus. The user may open the receiver many times, and be careful not to overheat the tobacco; but with the thermometer less intelligent persons may be employed to operate the same.

A small waste-cock is employed near the a depression, orin any suitable manner to heat 1 it sufficiently rapidly, so that the steam is generated in the lower part of the receiver. In

such case the pipeO may be entirely dispensed with.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The receiver B, with the cover G, the bottom H, the chamber H, the grate I, and flaps K K, combined and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein mentioned.

AUGUST FENN.

Witnesses:

B. BoEKLEN, DANIEL DALY. 

